Howe finally beats Guardiola: Newcastle end City's run at St James' Park
Newcastle United secure a 2-1 home win over Manchester City, marking Eddie Howe's first top-flight triumph over Pep Guardiola after 17 attempts, with a late Barnes winner.
Strategic shift pays off for Newcastle
After a bruising 3-1 defeat at Brentford, Newcastle United's coaching staff spent long hours reviewing footage, tweaking training, and refining their approach to Manchester City. The goal was simple: recapture energy and athleticism and turn a home clash into a contest City could not dominate.
A measured tweak to the lineup
Howe kept his trusted 4-3-3, but changes were made where needed. Bruno Guimarães shifted to a central role in midfield, Sandro Tonali stayed in a holding position, and returning full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento started together for the first time since September. Fabian Schär came in for a rare league start as Newcastle restored balance at the back. Injuries meant Trippier and Gordon missed out, and Howe used the squad to reintroduce energy without dismantling his core plan.
Barnes rises to the occasion
The forward Barnes delivered when it mattered, scoring the opener in the second half and then striking again after City levelled through Ruben Dias. Despite misses earlier in the game, he showed calm and quality to seal the points as Newcastle fought to defend their fortress at home.
Defence, discipline and home advantage
Newcastle defended fiercely, recording more tackles, aerial duels, and clearances than City as they restricted Guardiola's side to just four shots on target. The 2-1 victory extended Newcastle's strong home record and highlighted their tactical discipline in front of the St James' Park crowd.
St James' Park remains a fortress
With City boasting heavy possession, Newcastle's resilience in defence and smart counters proved decisive. Howe acknowledged the crowd's influence while stressing the ongoing work to translate home energy into away results.
Newcastle's practical, mostly incremental tweaks and relentless energy secured a landmark win over Manchester City, underscoring how a steady, disciplined plan can beat even the league's leading sides. BBC Sport
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